Guidance

Register as a certifier for EHC online

Published 2 December 2024

You need to register as a certifier to certify Export Health Certificates if you’re an Official Veterinarian (OV) or a Food Competent Certifying Officer (FCCO).

You will need to sign up to both a Government Gateway and Defra account.

You must register for the service using your own individual Government Gateway account.

Do not share your sign in details with anyone else.

Certificates that are approved using your account will show your name and credentials as the responsible certifier.

You need to register for the certify an export health certificate service and not the apply for an export health certificate service. If you register for the wrong service you will not be able to certify EHCs.

1. Before you register for EHC online

1.1 Ensure that your details are up to date at Improve International

Check your details are correct on your OV Personal Training Dashboard. The ‘update details’ link can be found on the left-hand side of your ‘overview’ page.

If you work from more than one address, you should put additional practice details in the ‘comments’ box. The practice addresses must be the same as those on any certificates you sign.

1.2 Check that your organisation is not already registered

Check within your organisation that it is not already registered. If it is already registered you should have an administrator who can invite you.

Some large vet corporations have centralised their registration. Contact the adminstrator at your corporation for more details.

You can call the APHA Service Desk on 0330 041 6999 if you can’t identify your administrator.

2. Create or sign in to your Government Gateway account

You cannot use Government Gateway using Windows XP and Windows Vista or Internet Explorer 6 and 7. You may have problems with other older operating systems and browsers.

Go to: www.gov.uk/guidance/certify-an-export-health-certificate.

If you already have a Government Gateway account:

• for a different government service, use this to create a Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) account
• for another Defra service, find the Government Gateway user ID linked with your Defra account and use that user ID to sign in
• that does not have your email address or a recovery word, you’ll be asked to set these up when you sign in for the first time

2.1  Create a Government Gateway user ID and password

If you already have your Government Gateway user ID and password, enter them (they are the same for all Defra services using Government Gateway).

If you do not, select “Create sign in details”.

1. Enter your email address and select “Continue”.
2. You’ll get an email with a code.
3. Enter the code details from the email you get, then select “Confirm”. If you have not got an email, check your spam folders. If necessary, select “I have not got the email”.
4. You’ll see a screen saying your email address has been confirmed. Select “Continue”.
5. Enter your full name and select “Continue”. You’ll then be asked to create a password that must:
   • be between 8 and 12 characters
   • have at least one number (0 to 9)
   • have at least one letter
   • not contain special characters
6. Confirm the password on the screen, then select “Continue”.
7. Select “Continue” on the page prompting you to “Set up a recovery word for your sign in details”.
8. Enter your recovery word in the field provided. It must:
   • be between 6 and 12 characters
   • not contain spaces or special characters
   • not contain numbers
9. Select “Continue” to get:
   • your Government Gateway user ID
   • an email with your Government Gateway account details

Keep your Government Gateway user ID and password safe, as you’ll need them every time you sign into EHC Online.

You have now successfully created a Government Gateway account. You can either sign out or continue to register for EHC Online by creating a Defra account.

3. Create or sign in to your Defra account

If you have signed out of your Government Gateway account, go to www.gov.uk/guidance/certify-an-export-health-certificate and sign in using the Government Gateway user ID and password you created. You’ll be taken to your Defra account.

If you work for an organisation with a Defra account already set up on Government Gateway (because your organisation is using another Defra service), you need to know who the admin for that account is.

The Defra account admin in your organisation will need to approve your access to EHC Online.

3.1 Creating a Defra account

All individual certifiers must register as a Sole trader. This will not affect your account or use of the service.

1. Read and accept the terms and conditions, then select “Continue”.
2. Select that you are registering as a business or organisation, then select “Continue”.
3. Select UK, then select “Continue”.
4. Is your organisation registered with Companies House? Select “N”, then select “Continue”.
5. Select “Sole trader”, then select “Continue”.
6. Complete each section:
   • Your name (first name and surname)
   • Your contact details (phone number)
   • Your business details (name, address, phone number and email address)
   • Security word, then select “Continue”
7. Once all sections are complete select “Check your answers”.
8. Check your account information and make changes if required.
9. Select “I am not a robot”, then select “Continue”.
10. Enter your preferred certifier address, then select “Continue”.

Your registration details will be passed to APHA for approval.

Approvals usually take 48 hours. You will receive an email to confirm when your account has been approved.

4. Watch a video of the sign up process

You can watch a video of the sign up process for certifiers on Youtube.

5. Contact CITC

Email: exports@apha.gov.uk 
Telephone: +44 (0) 3000 200 301

Centre for International Trade – Carlisle (CITC)
Eden Bridge House
Lowther Street
Carlisle
CA3 8DX